HARRISBURG, PA — A 21-year-old Northampton man faces 40 felony charges involving child sexual abuse material and a misdemeanor indecent assault charge after investigators alleged he posed as a young girl in online chat rooms to solicit money using sexually exploitative images of children.
Patrick Werkiser, 21, is also charged with felony corruption of minors and criminal use of a communication facility, according to Pennsylvania Attorney General Dave Sunday.
The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General’s Child Predator Section alleges that Werkiser possessed numerous photographs and videos depicting child sexual abuse material.
Investigators further allege that Werkiser used the images in online chat rooms, where he impersonated a young girl and sought money in exchange for the material.
The investigation also resulted in a misdemeanor charge of indecent assault involving a child younger than 13.
Earlier in October, agents executed a search warrant at Werkiser’s residence on Whitney Avenue in Easton, according to the Attorney General’s Office.
Werkiser faces 40 felony counts involving child sexual abuse material, along with felony counts of corruption of minors and criminal use of a communication facility.
He is being held on $250,000 cash bail.
The case will be prosecuted by Deputy Attorney General Mary Phillips of the Child Predator Section.
All suspects, arrestees, and defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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